Daniel Oliver Morton was born November 8, 1815, at Shoreham, Vermont, son of Rev.

[2][3] He removed to Cleveland, Ohio, and studied law in the offices of Hiram V. Willson & Henry B.

[4][5] Morton was also appointed a Master Commissioner in Chancery for the courts of Lucas County.

In 1852 and 1853, Morton was one of three Commissioners on Practice and Pleadings who reformed Ohio's Code of Civil Procedure.

He was appointed United States Attorney for the District of Ohio in 1854 by Franklin Pierce.